High heel shoe protector and footstep silencer

ABSTRACT

A heel protector cap designed to work efficiently with existing stiletto high heel shoes and to have a discreet appearance. The heel protector cap reduces footstep noise while walking in high heel shoes, increases the durability of high heel shoes, and increases foot comfort while wearing stilettos. Features and characteristics of the protective heel cap include construction from a durable material that can handle repetitive impact, coloring to allow the protective heel cap to blend in with the stiletto shoe, and a tapered edge that allows the product to fit securely to the stiletto heel while also providing a discrete appearance. The protective heel cap has been designed to fit the various shapes and sizes of stiletto heels.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

The present application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/659,808 filed Jun. 14, 2012, entitled High Heel Shoe Protector and Footstep Silencer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant disclosure relates generally to the field of footstep noise reduction and heel protection for high heel shoes.

BACKGROUND

High heel stiletto shoes are a common and fashionable footwear choice. However, they are also known to create a lot of noise when a wearer takes footsteps. Also, because the design of stiletto high heel shoes places the entire weight of the wearer on a very small stiletto heel surface, the high pressure can result in damage to various types of flooring such as wood floors, tile, or linoleum. The same high pressure can lead to damage and wear of the stiletto heel as well.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a heel protector cap designed to work efficiently with existing stiletto high heel shoes and to have a discreet appearance. In some embodiments, the heel protector cap reduces footstep noise while walking in high heel shoes, increases the durability of high heel shoes, and increases foot comfort while wearing stilettos.

The features and characteristics of some of the protective heel cap embodiments described herein include construction from a durable material that can handle repetitive impact, coloring to allow the protective heel cap to blend in with the stiletto shoe, and a tapered edge that allows the protective heel cap to fit securely to the stiletto heel while also providing a discreet appearance.

In some embodiments, the protective heel cap can be sized to fit the various shapes and sizes of stiletto heels. Some embodiments required extensive research to create four heel, protector sizes that fit a large range of stiletto heel sizes. In some embodiments, a change in the durometer of the heel protector cap requires a change in the sizing of the protective heel cap. In other words, in some embodiments, there is a direct relationship between the durometer and the sizing of the protective heel cap.

Changes and/or modifications to the embodiments described herein may be made to accommodate any number of additional requirements, including, but not limited to, different color schemes, different bottom edge thicknesses, different widths, different durometer, different tapering angles and heights, and different construction materials with different measurements of hardness, durability, density, ductility, compressive strength, tensile strength, Young's modulus, and other combinations of mechanical properties.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention are set forth or are more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended drawings. The high heel shoe protector and footstep silencer may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order for the manner in which the above recited and other features and advantages of the present invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that the drawings depict only typical embodiments of the present invention and are not, therefore, considered as limiting the scope of the invention, the present invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heel protector cap.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the heel protector cap.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the heel protector cap.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the heel protector cap.

FIG. 5 shows the heel protector cap in place on a stiletto high heel shoe.

FIGS. 6-9 are design schematics for embodiments of the heel protector cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The instant disclosure relates generally to the field of footstep noise reduction and heel protection for high heel shoes. This disclosure is intended to provide a general description of one exemplary embodiment. One skilled in the art, though, will appreciate that the invention may be embodied by a variety of configurations.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heel protector cap 10. The heel protector cap 10 includes a bottom edge 12 and a top opening 14. In this particular embodiment, the bottom edge 12 is substantially circular in shape, though the embodiments are not limited to substantially circular bottom edges. A sidewall 16 is connected to the top of bottom edge 12 along the circumference of bottom edge 12. In this embodiment, sidewall 16 is tapered so that the top opening 14 created by the top of the sidewall 16 has a diameter less than the diameter of bottom edge 12. A top edge 18 that marks the outer perimeter of top opening 14 may be directly adjacent to sidewall 16, or, as shown in FIG. 1, may be adjacent to a top rounded edge 20 that in turn connects to sidewall 16.

FIG. 2 is a side view of heel protector cap 10. Top edge 18, top rounded edge 20, sidewall 16, and bottom edge 12 are again shown. FIG. 2 also shows that where bottom edge 12 connects to sidewall 16, a bottom rounded edge 22 may be formed.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the heel protector cap 10, where the top opening 14, top edge 18, and top rounded edge 20 are visible. Because heel protector cap 10 is tapered in this embodiment, sidewall 16 is also visible from this view.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the heel protector cap 10 where bottom edge 12 is visible. Because bottom rounded edge 22 is used in this embodiment, it is also visible from this view.

FIG. 5 illustrates the heel protector cap 10 in place on a stiletto high heel shoe 24 with a stiletto heel 26. In this embodiment, the heel protector cap 10 is placed on the stiletto heel 26 so that the top edge 18 of the heel protector cap 10 is towards the top of the stiletto heel 26 and the bottom edge 12 of the heel protector cap 10 remains on the bottom of the stiletto heel 26.

FIGS. 6 through 9 illustrate design schemata for embodiments of the heel protector cap at various sizes and in various colors. In some embodiments shown in FIGS. 6-9, the disclosed heel protector cap 10 may fit stiletto heels that have diameters ranging from 8-12 millimeters (i.e. approximately 0.3-0.5 inches). In certain embodiments, the heel protector cap 10 is made in four distinct sizes. In some embodiments, the combination of sizing and durometer is important in creating an effective heel protector cap. In addition, in some embodiments, the heel protector cap is made of a polyurethane material, having a hardness of 80±5 durometer. In certain embodiments, there is a direct relationship between the size of the heel protector cap and the durometer.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment where the height of the heel protector cap 10 is 0.525 inches, the width or diameter of the top opening 14 is 0.320 inches, the width or diameter of the bottom edge is 0.472 inches, the width or diameter of a base of the inner portion of the heel protector cap 10 is 0.345 inches, and the total volume is 0.043 cubic inches.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment where the height of the heel protector cap 10 is 0.525 inches, the width or diameter of the top opening 14 is 0.350 inches, the width or diameter of the bottom edge is 0.500 inches, the width or diameter of a base of the inner portion of the heel protector cap 10 is 0.379 inches, and the total volume is 0.046 cubic inches.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment where the height of the heel protector cap 10 is 0.525 inches, the width or diameter of the top opening 14 is 0.392 inches, the width or diameter of the bottom edge is 0.550 inches, the width or diameter of a base of the inner portion of the heel protector cap 10 is 0.421 inches, and the total volume is 0.056 cubic inches.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment where the height of the heel protector cap 10 is 0.525 inches, the width or diameter of the top opening 14 is 0.422 inches, the width or diameter of the bottom edge is 0.570 inches, the width or diameter of a base of the inner portion of the heel protector cap 10 is 0.451 inches, and the total volume is 0.056 cubic inches.

The heel protector cap may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. 

1. (canceled)
 2. The high heel shoe protector of claim 12, wherein the top edge portion includes a rounded edge where the outer, linearly extending surface of the sidewall ends to form the top edge; and wherein the bottom portion includes a bottom rounded edge where the bottom edge meets the outer linearly extending surface of the sidewall.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The high heel shoe protector of claim 12, wherein the top opening has a diameter ranging from 8 to 12 millimeters.
 5. The high heel shoe protector of claim 12, wherein the top opening has a diameter of at least 8 millimeters.
 6. The high heel shoe protector of claim 12, wherein the top opening has a diameter not greater than 12 millimeters. 7-11. (canceled)
 12. A high heel shoe protector, comprising: a bottom portion having an inner surface and a bottom edge; and a sidewall extending from the bottom portion to a top edge portion, the sidewall having an inner surface extending linearly from the bottom portion inner surface to the top edge portion to define a top opening and a cavity, and having an outer surface extending linearly from the bottom edge to the top edge portion.
 13. The high heel shoe protector of claim 12, wherein the top opening in the top edge portion has a smaller diameter than a diameter of the bottom portion inner surface, and wherein the linearly extending outer surface tapers inwardly between the bottom edge and the top edge portion.
 14. The high heel shoe protector of claim 13, wherein the thickness of the sidewall formed between the linearly extending inner surface and the linearly extending outer surface tapers downwardly in the direction of the top edge portion.
 15. The high heel shoe protector of claim 12, wherein the high heel shoe protector is formed entirely of a polyurethane material.
 16. The high heel shoe protector of claim 12, wherein the high heel shoe protector is formed entirely of a polyurethane material having a hardness of 80±5 durometer.
 17. The high heel shoe protector of claim 12, wherein the thickness of the bottom portion is substantially greater than the thickness of any portion of the sidewall formed between the linearly extending inner surface and the linearly extending outer surface.
 18. A high heel shoe protector, comprising: a bottom portion having an inner surface and a bottom edge, the bottom portion inner surface having a first diameter, and the bottom edge having a second diameter; and a sidewall extending from the bottom portion to a top edge portion, the sidewall having an inner surface extending linearly from the bottom portion inner surface to the top edge portion to define a top opening and a cavity, wherein the top opening diameter is smaller than the first diameter of the bottom portion inner surface, wherein the top edge portion has an outer diameter which is smaller than the second diameter of the bottom edge, wherein the sidewall includes an outer surface that extends linearly from the bottom edge to the outer diameter of the top edge portion; and wherein the high heel shoe protector is formed entirely of a polyurethane material having a hardness of 80±5 durometer. 